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Swift Journal of Food Science and Technology (SJFST)
August 2015 Vol. 1(1), pp. 001-007
Copyright © 2015 Swift Journals
Original Research Paper
Yields and Nutrient Concentrations in Above ground Dry Matter of Rain-Fed Rice as Affected by Nutrient Deficiencies
Kouadio Konan-Kan Hippolyte ; Brahima Koné ; Affi Jeanne Bongoua-Devisme; Zadi Florent
Soil Science Department, Earth science unite, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan-Cocody, 22 BP 582, Abidjan 22, Côte D’Ivoire
*Corresponding Author E-mail: kbrahima@hotmail.com
Accepted 5 August, 2015
Abstract
Declining yields in continuous cropping are a serious threat to rain-fed rice (Oryza spp.) production. Yields are affected by ecological stress, including soil nutrient deficiencies as well as plant mineral nutrition. However, there is a limited diagnosis of soil nutrients and rice mineral nutrition in the humid forest zone of West Africa. Therefore, a nutrient-omission trial was conducted in the humid forest in Côte D’Ivoire on a Ferralsol of foot slope during the cropping seasons in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The effect of the complete fertilizer (Fc: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn) and other treatments (Fc–N, Fc–P, Fc–K, Fc–Ca, Fc–Mg, Fc–Zn, and unfertilized plot) with the exclusion of a specific nutrient from Fc were evaluated on rice grain and straw yields coupled with mineral concentrations in rice leaves and grains. Significant decline of grain and straw yields was observed after the first cropping season. Effects of P and K deficiencies differed respectively between cropping seasons, while N and Mg deficiencies induced reduction of the overall mean of grain yield by 17% and 26%, respectively. Except for treatment Fc–Mg that had an antagonistic effect on rice P nutrition, the effect of other treatments involved could be related to a significant depletion of soil Zn content. Sequential application of basal fertilizer composed of P, PK, and the PKMg according cropping season is recommended for sustaining rain-fed rice production with high yield in continuous cropping.
Keywords: Côte D’Ivoire; Rain-fed rice; Soil nutrient deficiencies; Declining yield; Grain quality
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